The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-04-14
NOT LOBBYISTS.

OF the hn1ghtS OF Labor convention III
Session at Harrisburg, Pa.-They Are
Neither Lobbyists, Anarchists or the
Friende of Anarchy.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, April 6-The Tunes
special from Harr burg says: The
Knights of Labor convention organized
this afternoon by electing General Treas
urer Turner chairman, and G. II. Painter,
OF Columbia, secretary. The purport OF
the gathering is best explained in two
speeches which Grand Master Workman
Powderly made-one before the conven-
ton and another this evening in the hall
of the House of Representatives. There
were about $50 delegates, comprising q
fine body of men. After organization
there was secret session
in which seven committees were
appointed to which will be referred the
various bills to be considered by the con-
vention- The names Of the men who
compose these committees il was decided
to keep secret for reasons best known to
Mr.. Powderly, but there was no objection
to making public the purposes for which
the committees were named. They viii ]
examine bills relating to the bituminous
and anthracite coal mines and iron min
ing industries, slate mining and agri-
culture and lumber, oil and oil production
and miscellaneous subjects.
All the convention did besides routine
work was to administer the oath Of
secrecy to official stenographer James F.
Burke, of Pitts burgh, and to listen to Mr..
Powderly. His speech before the conven-
ton and his speech in the evening were
identical About $50 men and women
greeted him with hearty applause when
he entered the house. Representative
Caffrey introduced him, whereupon Mr..
Powderlv said:
1t is with feeling Of pride that address
meeting gathered in the House of Representa-
tives Of my native State, on the question OF
labor, not only as il relates to worklngmen,
but in a broader sense, as it relates 10 all. 1
feel it my duty therefore, 10 speak in regard to
the convention here / called il to bring our
organization together through their represen-
tatives, to meet with the chosen representatives
OF the people. regardless Of party, to confer
with them on measures to benefit our State
We are charged with being lobbyists-a labor
lobby Mr.. Powderly here referred TO
IN editorial in a Philadelphia pa Ier, which
makes that charged LOBBYISTS were here be-
fore us and will be here when We are gone.
but we are not here as lobbyists. We came
here TO say to the representatives Of the COM
mOnwealth, such and such a measure is good;
Others are not
Before every election can 1idates ask the
working people to vote for them. They say dc
so and so and we VII render an equivalent
Having made this promise, we certainly have
right to see if that promise has been fulfil ed.
1 have frequently been asked if such
and such bill is GOOD
measure. As knew nothing about the bills.
generally sent them to the secretary
OF the assembly in the locality where the in.
Quiry came from. In one instance received
-.
seen there. The title had been cut OF the orig
inal one sent to Harrisburg and another substi.
tuted. We made up our min Is that we rep
resent a good portion of the commonwealth we
had right to see if pledges made had been full
filled. There is nothing IN this that is wrong
nothing of the lobbyist. We have no bride nc
inducement to offer. We give you our reasons
why we ask you to vote for this or that meas
ure, and leave the rest to yourself when you
come home and find yOu voted The wrong way
We have the right 10 vote for the other fellow.
Laughter and applause.l That's the Amer
can idea. More laughter and applause
We are charged with being Anarchists and
sayoring measures that tend to Anarchy. As
chief of our organization, l can say that moth
ing of anarchy finds an abiding place in our
midst, but mOnopolists want to make people
believe the contrary. No matter what errors
we have committed in the past We have al
ways aimed at doing right. We have pursued
n line of policy and found out things that are
right and wrong. but we always keep clear OF
one thing that brings odium on our country
anarchy.
In his afternoon speech, Mr.. Powderly |
rejoiced in the defeat of the Anarchists |
candidate in Chicago. The applause that |
greeted this assertion was deafening. II |
found an echo in every heart. Confirm.
ing, Mr.. Powderly said:
Is it not more honorable to come here like |
men and confer with our representatives as tc |
what ought to be DONE and go away and say |
we have rather aided than retarded work
was proud to meet the delegation that came /
here to-day. 1t was larger than 1 expected. |
saw in that delegation sign OF hope. Not !
man was under the influence of liquor spoke |
to many, and all told me that they neither |
tasted. touched nor handled liquor OF all our |
officers not one touches, tastes or handles that |
which degrades the body and damns the soul
liquor.
Among the bills to be presented to the |
is one drawn up by Ben Butler |
Assembly No. 1881, of Stoneboro, Mercer |
County, and which has been sent to Mr.. |
Hall, of Mercer, with the request that he |
it. This measure is in many |
respects most radical one, and if made I
a law, would revolutionize things consid. |
IL pay
ments, under the following provisions.
Section one enacts that every person,
firm or corporation employing any one
''for the profit, pleasure or any other
qualification Of such person, firm or cor.
poration" shall only be liable for the pay.
ment of the amount of wages due foI
twelve days, or less labor and that the
payment of said twelve days wages shall,
absolve such employing person, firm OF
for all further responsibility
for wages due previous to the date OF
such payment.
The second section provides that the
amount collectable under the first section
shall be collectable from any property or
source of income of the employers, and
shall be a lien upon the products of the
work or service wherever found within
he limits of the commonwealth, the lien
% be in force until the CLAIM is paid in
'ull, the cost in the proceedings to be
borne by the commonwealth.
The bill also provides that employers
shall be responsible for all personal in.
ury or financial loss incurred by any en-
1loye while in the performance of his
luty, except when such injury or loss is
,aused by the negligence of the emplove
ignorance on the part of the employee
lot to be adjudged as negligence.
Foul Play Suspected.
LANCASTER, Pa, April 7.-Wednesday
morning George Welsh, a dealer in rags,
81 C,lxo H..